R. M. W. Dixon
Encyclopedia
Robert Malcolm Ward Dixon (Gloucester
, England
, 25 January 1939) is a Professor of Linguistics at The Cairns Institute, James Cook University
, Queensland
, and formerly Director of the Research Centre for Linguistic Typology
at La Trobe University
, Melbourne
, Australia
.
In 1996, Dixon and another linguist, Alexandra Aikhenvald
, established the Research Centre for Linguistic Typology at Australian National University
in Canberra
. On January 1, 2000, the center relocated to La Trobe University
in Melbourne
.
Both Dixon (the Director of the centre) and Aikhenvald (Associate Director) resigned their positions in May 2008.
In early 2009, R. M. W. Dixon and Alexandra Aikhenvald established the Language and Culture Research Group (LCRG) at the Cairns campus of James Cook University.
Dixon has written on many areas of linguistic theory and fieldwork, being particularly noted for his work on the Aboriginal languages of Australia. He has published grammars of Dyirbal and Yidiny as well as non-Australian languages such as Boumaa Fijian and Jarawara
.
Dixon's views began to depart "rather radically" from accepted views about four decades ago. This has led him to reject the concept of Pama–Nyungan languages. He also feels that the standard "family-tree" model of linguistic change is only applicable in some circumstances, thinking that a "punctuated equilibrium" model, based on the theory of the same name
in evolutionary biology, is more appropriate for the Australian languages. Dixon puts forth his theory in The Rise and Fall of Languages. This work is not, however, widely accepted amongst Australianists.
He is the author of a number of other books including Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development Cambridge University Press and Ergativity.
In addition to scholarly works, Dixon also published, in 1983, a memoir of his early fieldwork in Australia titled Searching For Aboriginal Languages. The book provides a glimpse at linguistic fieldwork as it was done in that era as well as an interesting historical look at the appalling treatment of Aboriginal peoples of Australia that continued right into the 1960s. Additionally, Dixon is the co-author, with John Godrich, of the definitive discography
of American prewar blues
and gospel
recordings, Blues and Gospel Records: 1890–1943.
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, 25 January 1939) is a Professor of Linguistics at The Cairns Institute, James Cook University
James Cook University
James Cook University is a public university based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The university has two Australian campuses, located in Townsville and Cairns respectively, and an international campus in Singapore. JCU is the second oldest university in Queensland—proclaimed in 1970—and the...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, and formerly Director of the Research Centre for Linguistic Typology
Research Centre for Linguistic Typology
The Research Centre for Linguistic Typology is a research institute originally founded in 1998 in the Australian National University by R. M. W. Dixon which then moved to LaTrobe University, Melbourne in 2000. It is an internationally recognized centre of research on fieldwork linguistics, Language...
at La Trobe University
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
In 1996, Dixon and another linguist, Alexandra Aikhenvald
Alexandra Aikhenvald
Alexandra Yurievna Aikhenvald is a linguist specialising in Linguistic typology and the Arawak language family of the Brazilian Amazonia.-Biography:...
, established the Research Centre for Linguistic Typology at Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. On January 1, 2000, the center relocated to La Trobe University
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Both Dixon (the Director of the centre) and Aikhenvald (Associate Director) resigned their positions in May 2008.
In early 2009, R. M. W. Dixon and Alexandra Aikhenvald established the Language and Culture Research Group (LCRG) at the Cairns campus of James Cook University.
Dixon has written on many areas of linguistic theory and fieldwork, being particularly noted for his work on the Aboriginal languages of Australia. He has published grammars of Dyirbal and Yidiny as well as non-Australian languages such as Boumaa Fijian and Jarawara
Jarawara language
Jarawara is a dialect of Madi, an Arauan language spoken in Amazonas, Brazil. Jarawara is spoken by approximately 155 people.-Vowels:-Consonants:The glottal stop has a limited distribution....
.
Dixon's views began to depart "rather radically" from accepted views about four decades ago. This has led him to reject the concept of Pama–Nyungan languages. He also feels that the standard "family-tree" model of linguistic change is only applicable in some circumstances, thinking that a "punctuated equilibrium" model, based on the theory of the same name
Punctuated equilibrium
Punctuated equilibrium is a theory in evolutionary biology which proposes that most species will exhibit little net evolutionary change for most of their geological history, remaining in an extended state called stasis...
in evolutionary biology, is more appropriate for the Australian languages. Dixon puts forth his theory in The Rise and Fall of Languages. This work is not, however, widely accepted amongst Australianists.
He is the author of a number of other books including Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development Cambridge University Press and Ergativity.
In addition to scholarly works, Dixon also published, in 1983, a memoir of his early fieldwork in Australia titled Searching For Aboriginal Languages. The book provides a glimpse at linguistic fieldwork as it was done in that era as well as an interesting historical look at the appalling treatment of Aboriginal peoples of Australia that continued right into the 1960s. Additionally, Dixon is the co-author, with John Godrich, of the definitive discography
Discography
Discography is the study and listing of the details concerning sound recordings, often by specified artists or within identified musical genres...
of American prewar blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
recordings, Blues and Gospel Records: 1890–1943.